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The New Orleans Saints offensive line added a new face this week, with former backup guard/tackle Patrick Omameh joining the team off of waivers. He was recently waived by the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Saints were quick to file a claim for him, per the NFL daily transactions wire.
Omameh, who turns 31 on Dec. 29, has appeared in 6 games for the Raiders this season — though primarily on special teams, where he saw 29 snaps (compared to just 17 snaps with the Las Vegas offense). He took the field for 15 games with the Saints last season, including the playoffs, totaling 156 snaps and including a critical short-notice start at left tackle on Thanksgiving Day against the Atlanta Falcons.
His return is timely. The Saints lost right guard Nick Easton to his second concussion of the season (a previous brain injury sidelined him for three weeks in October), and left tackle Terron Armstead looked a little rusty coming off the COVID-19 reserve list in last week’s game with the Philadelphia Eagles, when he allowed a season-high 4 quarterback pressures.
But don’t expect Omameh to get on the practice field soon. He has to pass through several days of COVID-19 testing after changing teams, just like other Saints pickups like linebacker Kwon Alexander. It’s another unusual hurdle for players to deal with in 2020.
When he is cleared to join his teammates, Omameh should slot right into the depth chart like he never left. He re-signed with New Orleans as a free agent early this year and was with the team throughout training camp, signing with the Raiders after they released him in final roster cuts. He should help reinforce the interior rotation behind rookie guard Cesar Ruiz until Easton turns in a clean bill of health.
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